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Photograph by MICHAEL HUBBARD © 2000

From the aerial photograph it would be easy to write off this formation as dubious due to the geometric shortcomings of the rings and paths, however the lay and effects found within it are hard to explain in human terms.

Found in a wheat field below the Blackcap Downs on the B2116 road, just half a mile west from a formation which appeared in 1999, the six circles are very neat, all swirled anti-clockwise with notably offset centres. The crop is very flat to the ground with no visible signs of damage or trampling. Averaging the diameters, the central circle is 36’ surrounded by a ring of 60’, with satellite circles of 20’ (36’ with ring), 20’ (32’ with ring), 24’ (36’ with ring), 32’ and 36’. Ring widths vary from 1.5’ to 2.5’. The longest ‘proper’ path is 36’, 36 being a notably recurring figure within the dimensions, but a longer thin trail sweeps out west of the formation, petering out in a patch of lodging.

If the wobbly rings and paths are removed from the formation, the cluster of circles fits with the style of the Denton pattern of 15^th July, 12 miles or so south. We wondered briefly whether the less good parts had been subsequently added, but examination of the lay belied this as some of the paths are clearly overlaid by the circles. Within both the circles and rings there are classic nodal distortions, ‘magic bends’ and expulsion cavities a la the work of BLT and Dr Levengood. Crop curves from circles to paths around corners, and vice versa, complete with nodal bending to effect the flow. There are also some very good cases of ‘gap-seeking’, as first identified by Andrews and Delgado in days of yore, where crop is sucked into tramlines and spaces in the fields disrupt the lay. Dotted around the main circle and the rings are several deep pits in the ground which have profoundly changed the sweep of the flattened stems, which abruptly change direction. These should not have made any difference if human implements had been used.

All in all, a formation which, despite its design deficiencies, has many good qualities on the ground.

Description: 6 circles, 4 of which are ringed. Spotted by Mike Hubbard from his microlight.

The aerial photograph shows one of the most dodgy looking formations you can find, especially the rings. HOWEVER, at ground level you will find
every genuine pointer that you will ever require. The formation is 100%.

Reported by Barry Reynolds.